Future Hospitality & Tourism Forum 2026 lands in Tallinn: AI, sustainability, and year-round growth on the agenda
The Future Hospitality & Tourism Forum 2026 will gather over 250 executives, destination managers, and tech innovators in Tallinn from February 2-4, 2026. Hosted by the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association (EHRA/EHRL) at Hilton Tallinn Park, this annual forum rotates between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Expect practical strategies, candid debate, and clear direction for operators across the Baltic and Nordic markets.
With 25+ European thought leaders on stage, the program focuses on what actually moves the needle: profitable operations, responsible growth, and AI that works in real teams-not just on slides.
Who's taking the stage?
- Erkki Keldo, Estonian Minister of Economy and Industry, and Jane Cunningham, Director of European Engagement at Destinations International - policy, public-private alignment, and destination competitiveness.
- Giovanni Valentini, CEO, Apex Alliance Hotel Management - resilience and operational efficiency across portfolios.
- Ana Roš (Hiša Franko) and Sasu Laukkonen - gastronomy meeting sustainability and product innovation.
- Prof. Klaus Heine and Ged Brown - luxury branding and strategies to build demand beyond peak seasons.
- Tõnu Mertsina, Chief Economist, Swedbank - the outlook operators need for pricing, labor, and costs.
- Artem Daniliants - practical AI integration in daily hospitality workflows.
What's the focus this year?
The theme is simple: future-proof your business. Sessions are built around three pillars that translate directly into action.
- Competitiveness & Economy: Inflation, wage pressure, and productivity-what to measure, where to adjust, and how to protect margin.
- AI & Digital Transformation: Concrete use cases for service quality, upsell, forecasting, task automation, and decision support.
- Sustainability & Gastronomy: Regenerative sourcing, waste reduction, energy-smart operations, and guest experiences rooted in local product.
Why Tallinn?
The forum is hosted at Hilton Tallinn Park, in the heart of a city known for its medieval charm and thriving tech scene. Tallinn offers a tight radius for site visits and fast access to innovative operators-ideal for seeing what works on the ground.
Schedule at a glance
- Feb 2 (19:00-21:30): Informal get-together and early registration.
- Feb 3-4: Keynotes, panels, and hands-on workshops across the three pillars.
- Hospitality Trails: Guided, behind-the-scenes walks through standout hotels, restaurants, and creative districts to see modern strategies and tech in action.
- Social dinner: Restaurant UMA, with plenty of time to connect and compare notes.
What you'll take home
- Clear next steps for pricing, cost control, and productivity in 2026.
- AI workflows you can pilot immediately-guest messaging, upsell logic, SOP automation, and forecasting.
- Blueprints for year-round demand: local partnerships, product design, and events strategy.
- Practical sustainability moves: sourcing, waste, menu engineering, and energy use that guests value.
- New partnerships across the Baltic and Nordic network that translate into bookings and better operations.
- Firsthand examples from Tallinn operators via the Hospitality Trails.
Speakers and sessions to watch
- Market outlook: Tõnu Mertsina on inflation, demand signals, and labor-so you can set rates and staffing with confidence.
- AI, but useful: Artem Daniliants on integrating AI into daily tasks without breaking service quality or brand.
- Product with purpose: Ana Roš and Sasu Laukkonen on regenerative farming, menu design, and guest value beyond trends.
- Brand and seasonality: Prof. Klaus Heine and Ged Brown on premium positioning and building shoulder-season demand.
- Operations that scale: Giovanni Valentini on portfolio learnings you can apply to single assets and groups.
Who should attend
- Hotel and restaurant owners, CEOs, and GMs
- Destination managers and DMO teams
- Regional tourism boards and city leaders
- Operations, revenue, F&B, and marketing leads ready to test new playbooks
Tickets and registration
The forum targets operators and leaders across the Baltic and Nordic regions. Tickets are available via the OnlineExpo and Confenta platforms, with general registration closing soon. Early bird access closed in late 2025.
Make AI a team skill, not a side project
If you plan to implement the AI workflows presented at the forum, level up your team first. Explore practical programs by role at Complete AI Training to speed up adoption and reduce trial-and-error.
Bottom line
This year's forum is built for operators who need results this quarter and momentum all year. With Tallinn as the host, the mix of policy, operations, AI, and sustainability is grounded in what works-inside real businesses, with real constraints.
Your membership also unlocks:
